Day 3170 (Wednesday) 11th February 2026

This is Cannes

and this is Agay near Saint-Raphaël

I had to get up at 7am this morning to teach Bertran on Zoom at 8. I haven’t got up that early in ages and it was still dark but it soon turned into a lovely warm sunny day.

I did a lesson with Bertran until 9.30 and I have another one later this afternoon. At lunchtime we went down to the square and had lunch in Bobby’s.

The sky was a wonderful colour but there was a chilly wind.

The carnival in Nice starts today, we are really looking forward to seeing it all.    

Nice carnival 11th February to 1st March 2026.

The origin of the word Carnival goes back to the Middle Ages and undoubtedly comes from the terms “carne levare” meaning “to remove meat”.

Key Dates

1294

When the Count of Provence, Charles of Anjou, announced that he had spent “the joyful days of Carnival” there.

1539

The organisation and regulation of festivities were entrusted to the “abbés of fools” who organised four balls in the city according to social classes: nobles, merchants, artisans, and workers.

Règlement Abbes-des-fous

1830

At that time, Nice became the “capital of winter vacation”.

During the winter stay of the King of Piedmont-Sardinia, Charles-Félix, the local notables organised the Carnival on Cours Saleya with carriages and a gala parade under the palace balcony.

1860

At that time, the crowd threw plaster confetti, called “Italian confetti.” Paper confetti or “Paris confetti” appeared in Nice in 1892.

Bataille de confettis-1860

1873

The Niçois Andriot Saëtone founded a Carnival committee to promote the city of Nice and attract wealthy winter visitors. Organised under the municipality’s patronage, the carnival became a real spectacle with floats, masquerades, cavalcades…

Thus, on February 23, 1873, Carnival 1st entered the city, marking the birth of the modern carnival. Alexis Mossa and his son Gustave Adolf structured the staging until 1971, adding a unique touch mixing current events, allegorical myths, and grotesques. They created spectacular float models recognised as intangible heritage by UNESCO.

Municipal decree of the City of Nice in 1873

Carnival parade in front of the prefectural palace [1873]

1876

The Flower Battle was born. Initially, it was an exchange of flowers, but it became the poetic and elegant side of the Carnival highlighting local production. A unique show worldwide, thanks to the imagination of the poet-gardener Alphonse Karr.

February 14, 1882

King Polichinelle, previously a stationary straw puppet on the Prefecture square, transformed into “Triboulet” and participated for the first time in the parade on the “royal float.” The parades with several routes continued in the neighborhoods with small floats created for the occasion.

1889

1st Carnival poster.

World War I and II

Due to the conflicts, the carnival was cancelled for the entire duration of the two wars.

This was also the case in 1991 due to the Gulf War.

1964

1st mechanised floats.

2005

Since that date, the theme of the Flower Battle coincides with that of the carnival.

The Nice Carnival, a unique experience.

Nice Carnival 2026, “Long live the queen!”from February 11 to March 1, 2026

The Nice Carnival is one of the biggest carnivals in the world. Every year, thousands of visitors participate. Two key events are the Battle of Flowers and the Carnival Parade.

"LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!" FROM FEBRUARY 11 TO MARCH 1, 2026 — A WORLD PREMIERE

For the first time in its two-hundred-year history, the Nice Carnival will be governed by a woman. This 152nd edition highlights the great heroines and female figures who have shaped the world. A symbolic revolution embodied by a new motto: "Long live the Queen!"

Heroines from history and fiction will be celebrated in a spectacular parade blending tradition and modernity. This year's event will pay tribute to these remarkable women—warriors, scientists, artists, and political leaders—who transformed Carnival into a platform for empowerment and inspiration for future generations. Among the names that could inspire this year's celebration are Olympe de Gouges, Anne Frank, Josephine Baker, and Marie Curie.

Artistic and Creative Scope

The opening brings together the Queen, her fellow regents, flower-covered floats, the Carnival Herald from the city's districts, flag bearers, musical troupes, dancers, and foreign guests — a representative sample of the Carnival participants who come together to present themselves to the public.

PROGRAMME OF FESTIVITIES 2026

Carnival begins on February 11 with the Grand Charivari and culminates until February 28 with the burning of the King and his pyrotechnic show.

Unmissable events:

Veglione Ball — Friday, February 13 at 7:00 PM – At the Nice Opera House. Evening marking the prelude to Carnival.

Opening Illuminated Parade — Saturday, February 14 at 9:00 p.m. – Place Masséna. The first illuminated parade of the season.

Flower Battles — February 18, 21, 25 and 28 at 2:30 p.m. – Place Masséna and surrounding area. More than 100,000 flowers are distributed to the public from floats decorated with floral arrangements.

Illuminated Carnival Parade — February 14, 17, 21, 24 and 28 between 8:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. – Place Masséna. Five nighttime parades with spectacular floats, giant heads reaching 20m in height, musical troupes and street art from all over the world.

Corso d'Aqui — Sunday, February 22 at 2:30 p.m. – Place Masséna. Daytime parade showcasing local folk groups and authentic traditions.

Lou Queernaval — Friday, February 27 at 8:00 PM – Festival grounds. France's first gay carnival, free but reservations required. A popular event celebrating inclusion and living together.

King's Cremation and Fireworks Display — Saturday, February 28 at 10:45 p.m. – Quai des États-Unis. Solemn closing ceremony marking the end of the reign and the introduction of the new 2027 theme. The crowd sings "Nissa La Bella." Spectacular fireworks display. Free admission.

THE BATTLE OF FLOWERS DURING THE DAY, DURING CARNIVAL

A beautiful and grand parade of flower-covered floats in the city.

Just like the carnival parade, the Battle of Flowers is a must-see event on the French Riviera. Join this parade, mainly held around the Albert 1er Gardens and Place Masséna, on Saturday and Wednesday afternoons. The throwing of mimosa, lilies, daisies, carnations, roses, and other flowers to the spectators adds to the lively atmosphere of the Battle of Flowers.

Did you know? Many of these flowers come from the hills of the French Riviera. The Battle of Flowers is a unique event that makes the Nice Carnival famous . Costumed actresses parade on floats decorated with flowers and distribute more than 100,000 flowers to the public.

See you on February 18, 21, 25 and 28, 2026 at 2:30 pm.

THE ILLUMINATED CARNIVAL PARADE: THE HEART OF THE CARNIVAL

A Spectacle of Extravagance and Magic

Illuminated parades with giant, colourful processions by day and night, enlivened by more than 1,000 musicians and dancers from all corners of the world.

Giant heads reaching up to twenty metres in height embody the great heroines of the 2026 theme, while spectacular floats tell their inspiring stories. Every evening, Nice transforms into a luminous stage where visual animations and street art performances create a true spectacle of sound and light.

The Five Illuminated Corsi of 2026

Five illuminated parades take place on Saturdays and Tuesdays:

Saturday, February 14th at 9:00 PM (time difference)

Tuesday, February 17th at 8:30 PM

Saturday, February 21st at 8:30 PM

Tuesday, February 24th at 8:30 PM

Saturday, February 28th at 8:30 pm (closing parade and special festivities)

The King's Cremation: A Cathartic and Renaissance Moment

The final parade culminates in an emotionally charged ritual. The burning of the King marks the end of his reign and the introduction of the new 2027 theme. The crowd then joins in singing the traditional "Nissa La Bella," transforming this moment into a collective celebration. A fireworks display lights up the Nice sky at 10:45 p.m. at the Quai des États-Unis.

This was Badger last night, he has never sat in this spot before.